A new
cross-government office which aims to tackle the
inequalities faced by disabled people has been launched.
The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) has been set up to
create "joined up thinking" so that disabled people remain a
priority for all departments.
The move was recommended in a report from Downing
Street's Strategy Unit earlier this year.
Tony Blair said the launch showed that progress was being
made in tackling inequalities faced by disabled people.
The prime minister said a lot of work had been undertaken
since he had first asked the Strategy Unit to look at ways
of tackling the marginalisation of disabled people in the
UK.
"There is commitment right across government to work
together in delivering a better future for disabled people,"
he said.
The ODI will have a cross-departmental brief and will
support the work of a ministerial steering group from Work
and Pensions, Health, Transport, Trade and Industry and the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
It will publish an annual report on progress made.
For many years disabled people have complained that
support comes from a number of sources and is fragmented.
The ODI is an attempt to co-ordinate policy and ensure
that disabled people themselves have a say in the
decision-making process.
To this end, the National Forum for Organisations of
Disabled People will be developed by the ODI and will
support its work.
Minister for Disabled People Anne McGuire said the
government had acted quickly to put one of the key
recommendations from the Strategy Unit's report into action.
'Equal citizens'
"The new Office for Disability Issues will drive forward
our overall strategy, and will play the central role in
ensuring that all government departments work together more
effectively on issues relevant to disabled people," she
said.
The launch has been welcomed by the Disability Rights
Commission (DRC) - the body that oversees disability rights
in the UK.
"Disabled people want to be involved in designing the
policies that affect them and not merely at the receiving
end of policies designed by others," said DRC chief
executive Bob Niven.
"Disabled people want to contribute and participate on
equal terms and as equal citizens."
The Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) also
said the creation of the ODI was a welcome improvement.
"For too long government policies and departments have
been too disjointed in their approach towards tackling the
widespread disadvantage and discrimination faced by millions
of deaf and hard of hearing people," said RNID
communications director Brian Lamb.
But Mr Lamb warned that co-operation between departments
had to be something that worked in practice.
"It's crucial that the new office really does get
cross-government support including a more joined up approach
to budgeting across government departments."
The government says the ODI's work will be to challenge
it from within, changing the way in which it engages with
disabled people, influencing public perceptions of
disability and providing a centre for excellence.
Setting its sights this high will certainly create an
expectation of action rather than rhetoric among disability
rights campaigners.
